Cross-sectional, descriptive study of Chagas disease among citizens of Bolivian origin living in Munich, Germany

PURPOSE: Chagas disease (CD) has become a global health issue mainly due to migration. Germany lacks surveillance data and is home to a large Latin American immigrant population. Recognising that Bolivia is the country with the highest CD prevalence in Latin America, this cross-sectional, descriptiv...

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Autores: Navarro, Miriam; Berens-Riha, Nicole; Hohnerlein, Stefan; Seiringer, Peter; von Saldern, Charlotte; Garcia, Sarah; Blasco-Hernandez, Teresa; Navaza, Bárbara; Shock, Jonathan; Bretzel, Gisela; Hoelscher, Michael; Löscher, Thomas; Albajar-Viñas, Pedro; Pritsch, Michael
Tipo de documento: Artículo
Fecha de publicación:2017
País:España
Institución:Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Repositorio:Repisalud
Lenguaje:Inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repisalud.isciii.es:20.500.12105/8741
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/8741
Nivel de acceso:Acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Bolivia
Chagas Disease
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
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author Navarro, Miriam
author2 Berens-Riha, Nicole
Hohnerlein, Stefan
Seiringer, Peter
von Saldern, Charlotte
Garcia, Sarah
Blasco-Hernandez, Teresa
Navaza, Bárbara
Shock, Jonathan
Bretzel, Gisela
Hoelscher, Michael
Löscher, Thomas
Albajar-Viñas, Pedro
Pritsch, Michael
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author_browse Albajar-Viñas, Pedro
Berens-Riha, Nicole
Blasco-Hernandez, Teresa
Bretzel, Gisela
Garcia, Sarah
Hoelscher, Michael
Hohnerlein, Stefan
Löscher, Thomas
Navarro, Miriam
Navaza, Bárbara
Pritsch, Michael
Seiringer, Peter
Shock, Jonathan
von Saldern, Charlotte
author_facet Navarro, Miriam
Berens-Riha, Nicole
Hohnerlein, Stefan
Seiringer, Peter
von Saldern, Charlotte
Garcia, Sarah
Blasco-Hernandez, Teresa
Navaza, Bárbara
Shock, Jonathan
Bretzel, Gisela
Hoelscher, Michael
Löscher, Thomas
Albajar-Viñas, Pedro
Pritsch, Michael
author_role author
collection Repisalud
description PURPOSE: Chagas disease (CD) has become a global health issue mainly due to migration. Germany lacks surveillance data and is home to a large Latin American immigrant population. Recognising that Bolivia is the country with the highest CD prevalence in Latin America, this cross-sectional, descriptive pilot study investigated CD and associated factors among citizens of Bolivian origin living in Munich, Germany. METHODS: Participants completed a questionnaire in order to collect socioeconomic and health-related data. In addition, serology was performed. In case of positive serological tests, PCR diagnostic and clinical staging together with disease management was initiated. Qualitative research was conducted to identify personal and community barriers as well as strategies to increase CD awareness among the population at risk. RESULTS: Between June 2013 and June 2014, 43 people from Bolivia (or descendants) were enrolled. A total of 9.3% (4/43), of whom two women were of childbearing age, tested seropositive (ELISA and IFAT), and one also by PCR. For 2/4 positive participants, clinical evaluation was performed and the indeterminate form of CD was diagnosed. Knowledge about CD symptoms and ways of transmission were completely absent among 55.8% (24/43, 2/4 with CD) and 30.2% (13/43, 1/4 with CD) of participants, respectively. A total of 27.9% (12/43, 0/4 with CD) of participants had donated blood prior to the study, whereas 62.8% (27/43, 3/4 with CD) were motivated to donate blood in the future. The qualitative research identified lack of knowledge as well as stigma and fears related to CD. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the small number of participants, the prevalence of CD as well as the potential risk of non-vectorial transmission was alarming. Campaigns adapted for Latin American migrants as well as control strategies should be developed and put in place in order to prevent non-vectorial transmission and actively detect cases of CD in Germany.
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oai_identifier_str oai:repisalud.isciii.es:20.500.12105/8741
publishDate 2017
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reponame_str Repisalud
spelling Cross-sectional, descriptive study of Chagas disease among citizens of Bolivian origin living in Munich, Germany Navarro, Miriam Berens-Riha, Nicole Hohnerlein, Stefan Seiringer, Peter von Saldern, Charlotte Garcia, Sarah Blasco-Hernandez, Teresa Navaza, Bárbara Shock, Jonathan Bretzel, Gisela Hoelscher, Michael Löscher, Thomas Albajar-Viñas, Pedro Pritsch, Michael Adolescent Adult Aged Bolivia Chagas Disease Child Cross-Sectional Studies PURPOSE: Chagas disease (CD) has become a global health issue mainly due to migration. Germany lacks surveillance data and is home to a large Latin American immigrant population. Recognising that Bolivia is the country with the highest CD prevalence in Latin America, this cross-sectional, descriptive pilot study investigated CD and associated factors among citizens of Bolivian origin living in Munich, Germany. METHODS: Participants completed a questionnaire in order to collect socioeconomic and health-related data. In addition, serology was performed. In case of positive serological tests, PCR diagnostic and clinical staging together with disease management was initiated. Qualitative research was conducted to identify personal and community barriers as well as strategies to increase CD awareness among the population at risk. RESULTS: Between June 2013 and June 2014, 43 people from Bolivia (or descendants) were enrolled. A total of 9.3% (4/43), of whom two women were of childbearing age, tested seropositive (ELISA and IFAT), and one also by PCR. For 2/4 positive participants, clinical evaluation was performed and the indeterminate form of CD was diagnosed. Knowledge about CD symptoms and ways of transmission were completely absent among 55.8% (24/43, 2/4 with CD) and 30.2% (13/43, 1/4 with CD) of participants, respectively. A total of 27.9% (12/43, 0/4 with CD) of participants had donated blood prior to the study, whereas 62.8% (27/43, 3/4 with CD) were motivated to donate blood in the future. The qualitative research identified lack of knowledge as well as stigma and fears related to CD. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the small number of participants, the prevalence of CD as well as the potential risk of non-vectorial transmission was alarming. Campaigns adapted for Latin American migrants as well as control strategies should be developed and put in place in order to prevent non-vectorial transmission and actively detect cases of CD in Germany. BMJ Publishing Group http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/8741
spellingShingle Cross-sectional, descriptive study of Chagas disease among citizens of Bolivian origin living in Munich, Germany
Navarro, Miriam
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Bolivia
Chagas Disease
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
title Cross-sectional, descriptive study of Chagas disease among citizens of Bolivian origin living in Munich, Germany
title_full Cross-sectional, descriptive study of Chagas disease among citizens of Bolivian origin living in Munich, Germany
title_fullStr Cross-sectional, descriptive study of Chagas disease among citizens of Bolivian origin living in Munich, Germany
title_full_unstemmed Cross-sectional, descriptive study of Chagas disease among citizens of Bolivian origin living in Munich, Germany
title_short Cross-sectional, descriptive study of Chagas disease among citizens of Bolivian origin living in Munich, Germany
title_sort Cross-sectional, descriptive study of Chagas disease among citizens of Bolivian origin living in Munich, Germany
topic Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Bolivia
Chagas Disease
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
topic_facet Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Bolivia
Chagas Disease
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/8741